Family of Kasandra Perkins Releases Statement on Murder-Suicide

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The family of Kasandra Perkins, who was shot and killed by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher in a murder-suicide on Saturday morning, issued a statement about the tragic incident on Monday.

In their statement, Perkins’ family asks people to keep both them and the Belcher family in their thoughts and prayers.

“On behalf of the Perkins family, we appreciate the outpouring of love and concern for our Kassandra ‘Kasi’ Perkins. Our hearts are truly broken for Kasi was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, mother, cousin and friend. At this time we request the media respect our privacy during this difficult time as we grieve for our loved one. Please keep us in your hearts and prayers as well as the Belcher family for two lives were lost. Again we thank you for your support, our wish is for Kasi to be remembered for the love she shared with us all. Kasi will be truly missed!”

Also on Monday, Jamaal Charles and his wife, Whitney — who was Kassandra Perkins’ cousin — released the following statement on the deaths of Perkins and Belcher:

“Our family has suffered a personal tragic loss. Kassandra Perkins was in-fact first cousin to my wife, Whitney. As this is a very tough time for our family, I ask that we are respected as we grieve. Kassandra was not only family, but a friend and a loving mother. As my actual family and my Kansas City Chiefs family have been altered forever, we ask that you keep us and most importantly their child in prayer.”

On Saturday, police say that Belcher, 25, shot 22-year-old Perkins, with whom he has an infant girl born in September, multiple times in the couple’s Kansas City home, killing her. He then drove to the Kansas City Chiefs practice facility at the Truman Sports Complex, where he talked with Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel, general manager Scott Pioli and linebackers coach Gary Gibbs — reportedly thanking them for giving him a shot at the NFL — before turning the gun on himself.

Note: While Perkins’ family spells her first name ‘Kassandra,’ her Facebook page spells it with one ‘s,’ therefore, FOX 4 has chosen to use the spelling she preferred.